Inventions come in all shapes and sizes. Some are as simple as purple catsup. Others push the limits of quantum physics. The real measure of an invention is not just how well it works or how impressively it is engineered, but how it changes our lives.

Air Powered Pogo Stick

Stan Musilek

Inventor: Carlton Calvin, Razor USA

Savvy marketers know that before you can sell a new toy for kids you have to seduce the parents too. Since the world is full of folks over 30 with fond memories of pogoing till they dropped, it's about time someone reinvented this retro favorite. The new Airgo replaces the metal springs of classic pogo sticks with an air pump for a smoother, quieter ride. Of course, kidsand grownups toomay have to land on their fanny a few times before they get the hang of it.